December 2003

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI PROGRAMS
This time of year always seems to me to be about people getting together and celebrating -- whether it be Thanksgiving, the holidays, or New Year's. And throughout this season, GW alumni have been getting together to celebrate our alma mater. On November 13, almost 50 alumni gathered for a GW Boston alumni club happy hour. On November 17, over 160 alumni gathered in New York City to meet with President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, Vice President for Advancement Beverly Bond, and Law School Dean Michael Young. The evening was enjoyed by all, and marked the continued success of GW's New York alumni club. And on November 20, almost 150 alumni attended Mamma Mia, the hit show based on the music of ABBA. This event, which was sponsored with the George Washington Alumni Association, also featured a pre-theater reception at The Willard Hotel.

As we approach 2004, there are going to be many more opportunities for GW alumni to get together. President Trachtenberg is scheduled to host alumni receptions in Hong Kong (December 8), Los Angeles (January 8), Miami (February 27), and Washington, D.C. (April 20). We'll also be coming to Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham, Chicago and Atlanta this spring to organize alumni clubs. Stay tuned for details. The Office of Alumni Programs, in conjunction with the Office of the Vice President for Government Affairs, will be hosting a Capitol Hill Alumni Reception in April. In partnership with the GWAA, we'll also be hosting tailgaters before several GW Men's and Women's basketball games, both here in Foggy Bottom, and on the road -- in New York, Austin, and Pittsburgh. Details on all these events will follow in the upcoming weeks and months. And, of course, we're already busy planning the biggest alumni gathering of them all -- Colonials Weekend -- which will be held October 15-17, 2004. Mark your calendars!

That's all from Alumni House for now. Best wishes to you and yours for a joyful holiday season and a happy new year!

Cordially,
Scott M. Mory (B.A. 1996, J.D. 1999)
Executive Director of Alumni Programs

ALUMNI PROGRAMS & EVENTS

SPECIAL DISCUSSION ON RADIO AND THE PRESIDENCY ON DECEMBER 7
You are invited to join CBS News legends Richard C. Hottelet and George Herman, plus CBS Radio News White House Correspondent Peter Maer for a lively and historic discussion entitled "From Pearl Harbor to the Persian Gulf War: Radio and the Presidency" on Sunday, December 7, at 2:00 p.m. in the Media and Public Affairs Building's Jack Morton Auditorium (805 21st Street, NW). To register your attendance, please e-mail use@gwu.edu or register at the door. The discussion, hosted by GW and the Smithsonian Associates, will be moderated by GW Vice President for University Relations and former CBS News General Manager Michael Freedman.

A TOWN HALL DEBATE ON SLAVERY REPARATIONS ON DECEMBER 9
You are invited to a live videotaping of a Town Hall Meeting entitled "Payment Due? A Debate on Slavery Reparations" on Tuesday, December 9, at 8:00 p.m. in the Media and Public Affairs Building's Jack Morton Auditorium. The Town Hall Meeting will be hosted by renowned attorney Johnnie Cochran, Jr. with guest panelists to include: Armstrong Williams (conservative pundit), Deadria Farmer Paellman (lead plaintiff in lawsuit against Aetna Insurance and other Fortune 500 companies with ties to the African Slave Trade), Carol Swain (law professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Law), and Dorothy Lewis (spokesperson for N’COBRA a pro-reparations organization). Tickets are free, but reservations are required. To reserve a spot in the audience, please e-mail use@gwu.edu. The program will be videotaped for TV One/COMCAST cable network, a new African American cable network that will premier in early 2004.

JANUARY SKI TRIP FOR ALUMNI
GW's Recreational Sports & Fitness Services is offering a ski trip to Quebec City, Canada, from January 3-10, 2004. The trip is open to alumni and their friends, as well as faculty, staff and students. For more information, please visit the GWellness website.

KALB REPORT AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB ON FEBRUARY 9, 2004
Alumni are invited to attend the next taping of The Kalb Report, on Monday, February 9, 2004, at 8:00 p.m. at the National Press Club (14th and F Streets, NW). The guest will be Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times. Free tickets are available at the Marvin Center TicketMaster office. The Kalb Report series is funded by a grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. The series is produced by The George Washington University, the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, and the National Press Club. For more information, please call 202-994-6460. The Kalb Report airs on C-SPAN, Channel 32 Public Television, and WMAL Radio in Washington.

GW SUMMER SCHOLARS PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAM
Experience GW and discover DC! Parents of high school students may be interested in GW's Summer Scholars Pre-College Program, a six-week residential program for rising seniors. Summer Scholars are offered an authentic college experience for students who seek an intellectual challenge and who are ready to "test the waters." The program engages students in an intensive series of college coursework (for credit) and study through seminars and activities that focus on college preparation. To learn more about the GW Summer Scholars program, please visit their website, e-mail scholars@gwu.edu, or call 202-242-6802.

Visit the latest calendar of upcoming alumni events on the GW Alumni website. The site also contains information about other alumni benefits & services.

REGIONAL CLUB CORNER

BOSTON HOSTS "KICK-OFF ALUMNI CLUB" HAPPY HOUR
More than 50 alumni gathered at 33 Restaurant & Lounge on November 13 for a Beantown Happy Hour. Thanks to all who organized and attended! To see photos of the event, visit the Boston club website.

PRESIDENT TRACHTENBERG VISITS NYC
The New York Metro Area Alumni Club welcomed President Trachtenberg, Vice President for Advancement Beverly Bond and Law School Dean Michael Young at The Harvard Club where more than 160 alumni gathered on November 17. Thank you to all those who attended.

GW VS. TEXAS MEN'S BASKETBALL TAILGATE PARTY ON DECEMBER 29
The Colonials are coming to Austin! A pre-game tailgater will be held on Monday, December 29, at Scholtz Garten (1607 San Jacinto Boulevard) from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., followed by the GW versus University of Texas men's basketball game at 6 p.m. Please RSVP for this event by calling 1-800-ALUMNI7 by Monday, December 22. The cost for this event is $15 for adults and $7 for children. Tickets are limited.

GW VS. TENNESSEE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TAILGATE PARTY ON DECEMBER 30
Come cheer on the Lady Colonials in Washington, DC! A pre-game tailgater will be held on Tuesay, December 30, at The University Club (1918 F Street, NW) from 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by the GW versus University of Tennessee women's basketball game at 7 p.m. Please RSVP for this event by calling 1-800-ALUMNI7 by Monday, December 22. The cost for this event is $15 for adults and $7 for children. Tickets are limited.

PHILADELPHIA NETWORKING NIGHT
Tuesday, January 6, 2004
The Pyramid Club
1735 Market Street, 52nd Floor
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Alumni will have an opportunity to network with fellow alumni from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., at which time current students will join the reception to network with alumni.

Please reply to philalum@gwu.edu by Monday, December 22, 2003. Be sure to include your name, career field, school affiliation, and graduation year.

NYC NETWORKING NIGHT
Wednesday, January 7, 2004
New York Helmsley Hotel
212 42nd Street (between 2nd & 3rd avenues)
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Alumni will have an opportunity to network with fellow alumni from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., at which time current students will join the reception to network with alumni.

Please reply to nyalum@gwu.edu by Monday, December 22, 2003. Be sure to include your name, career field, school affiliation, and graduation year.

AN EVENING WITH PRESIDENT TRACHTENBERG IN LOS ANGELES
The LA Metro Area GW Alumni Club is hosting an "Evening with Stephen Joel Trachtenberg" on Thursday, January 8, 2004, at 6:30 p.m., at the Park Hyatt Los Angeles (2151 Avenue of the Stars).

The reception is $20 per person and includes cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Please reply to 1-800-ALUMNI-7 by Monday, December 22, 2003. Business casual attire is requested.

CAMPUS NEWS

GW GEOGRAPHY BOWL TEAM SWEEPS REGIONAL COMPETITION
Ten geography students from The George Washington University traveled to Charlotte, N.C., on November 23, to compete in the Southern Division Regionals of the World Geography Bowl sponsored by the Association of American Geographers. The GW team, which represented the Mid-Atlantic Division, swept the competition going undefeated in 10 rounds of play and earned a spot to compete in the World Geography Bowl championships.

(from GW News Center)

ILIESCU RECEIVES GW'S PRESIDENT'S MEDAL
H.E. Ion Iliescu, the first democratically elected president of Romania, received the University's highest honor on October 27, as he was presented with the GW President's Medal.

(from By George!)

DC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HONORS GW
In recognition of its overall contributions that make the District of Columbia a better place to live, learn and work, GW was honored with the DC Chamber of Commerce’s (DCCC) 2003 “Chair’s Award” on November 13.

(from By George!)

More university news is available from By George!, the GW Magazine, GW News Center, and GW's student newspaper, the GW Hatchet.

GW SPORTS

BB&T CLASSIC
The annual BB&T Classic will be held on Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7, at the MCI Center in downtown Washington. The Colonials tip off the tournament at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday against West Virginia. This game is followed by Maryland and Gonzaga at 3:30 p.m. Consolation and championship games will be played on Sunday, December 7. For information and to purchase tickets, please call GW's TicketMaster office at 202-994-7411.

SPECIAL BASKETBALL TICKET OFFER FOR ALUMNI
A special Colonials "mini plan" for tickets to GW men's and women's basketball games is being offered to GW alumni this season. If you purchase three games at a discounted price ($25 for men's games; $20 for women's games) this season you will receive tickets for two home games FREE. For more information, please call 202-994-6650.

For more sports news, including up-to-the-minute scores and schedules, visit GW Sports.

FORWARD THE E-WIRE TO A FRIEND

Do you know GW alumni who are not receiving the Alumni E-Wire? Forward your copy, and ask them to visit the Alumni web site to sign up for a free subscription! The E-Wire is the best way to quickly learn what's happening on campus and stay connected to GW. Your feedback is also welcome - please contact us at alumni@gwu.edu to share your thoughts.

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please visit the following web sites to learn more about what's happening at GW, or for information about alumni benefits and services, regional clubs, or your alumni association.

Office of Alumni Programs GW Alumni Community Alumni Benefits Info GW Home Page GW Magazine

By George! GW Press Releases GW Hatchet GW Athletics

School-Based Alumni Associations:

• Columbian College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Association
• Elliott School Alumni Association
• Engineer Alumni Association
• Graduate School of Education & Human Development Alumni Association
• Law Alumni Association
• Medical Center Alumni
  (School of Medicine & Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Health Services)
• Mount Vernon Alumnae Association
• School of Business & Public Management Alumni Association